Knife splashing

Chapter 193: Wuchuan Arrives at Ezhou

It was late at night and the forest was pitch black.

In this remote place, in an open space in the forest, stands a simple thatched cottage.

The moon is bright, the night wind is blowing, and the wind chimes on the eaves of the thatched cottage are jingling.

The style of this wind chime is also strange. The bell hammer is actually a copper talisman. Every time it swings and hits the wind, it makes a crisp sound.

The interior of the thatched cottage was very simple, with empty walls and only a square table and a futon.

There was a dim candlelight on the table, and offerings were placed in front of it. On the tray at the back, there was a heart that had already turned a little black.

An old monk sat upright on a cushion, muttering to himself and moving the Buddhist beads one by one in his hand.

Late in the night, he suddenly opened his eyes, knelt on the mat, and continued to worship the heart.

call!
In an instant, a dark wind began to blow.

The moonlight outside the window also seems brighter.

In the forest, a strong wind started to blow, and the leaves rustled. Soon, dense shouts were heard.

There were wailing, crying, begging, and angry roars. They seemed like human voices, but also like ghost talk, and were all kinds of strange sounds.

At the same time, there were ghost lights floating in the dense forest.

Pairs of blood-red eyes lit up in the dark woods, and the grass rustled, as if countless wild beasts were running among them.

Most people would be scared to death by such a scene, but the old monk turned a blind eye and just knelt down in front of the heart.

In the second half of the night, the strange noises gradually stopped.

The demons dancing wildly just now was just an illusion.

Inside the thatched cottage, a hint of surprise flashed across the old monk’s eyes.

He took out a sachet from his bosom and carefully placed the heart inside it. Then he laughed and picked up the jar of wine on the table as a tribute and poured it everywhere.

Finally, he set fire to the thatched cottage and left...

…………

On the Jinqian River, the spring rain is as fine as silk. Raindrops fall into the river, creating ripples and looming green mountains on both sides. Raindrops fall on the boat awning, dripping, and flow through the cracks in the woven bamboo.

"This damn weather!"

Sharifei shuddered and swore under his breath.

Although the first month of the lunar year has passed, the chilly spring weather is still there, coupled with the continuous drizzle. Once the clothes get wet, the chill penetrates straight into the body, making people shiver with cold.

Sharifei picked up the jar of wine and poured a bowl for each of them.

"Hurry, hurry, drink some to drive away the cold!"

"I have been traveling for days and haven't had a single hot meal. I must have a good sleep when I get to Shangjin City."

Li Yan drank the wine in the bowl, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile: "Uncle Sha, now you have money and your body has become delicate, right?"

"I've been through thick and thin in the past, and never complained about the hardship."

Sharifei curled his lips and said, "That's because people are poor and have low aspirations, so they can only be thick-skinned. Life is only a few short decades, so who wants to suffer if they can live a comfortable life?"

Wang Daoxuan beside him laughed in silence: "That's absolutely right."

Sharifi sighed and shook his head, "Old Sha, I'm not afraid of hardship, I'm just in a bad mood."

As he spoke, he glanced at the luggage in the cabin and whispered, "That stuff got damp, I'm afraid it's all ruined."

He was talking about gunpowder, of course.

"Don't worry, we can always find a way to get some more. All kinds of people gather at the Yunyang Wharf, there's nothing we can't get." Li Yan shook his head to comfort.

As for Lu San, he squatted in the corner and fiddled with the falcon. From time to time, he reached into the cabin and scooped up a handful of clear water, and immediately a school of fish swarmed below.

At this time, a boatman wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat came in and said with a fist: "Everyone, Shangjin City is almost here."

As he said this, he looked at Lu San beside him, his eyes full of apology, "Brother Lu, I'm really sorry that I couldn't help you before."

He was a boat captain of the Manchuanguan Cao Gang, named Wang Yong. When Lu San was a worshiper in the Cao Gang, he had helped him several times.

Later, because of Qiao Sanhu, Lu San was wanted.

The Cao Gang finally decided to stand idly by, which made old captains like Wang Yong very angry.

No matter whether it is the Cao Gang or the Pai Sect, although they have a great reputation in the underworld, to put it bluntly, most of them are just hard workers.

One of the most important purposes of the original organization was to unite to fight against the government and avoid being exploited by corrupt officials.

Everyone in Manchuan Pass knows what kind of person Qiao Sanhu is.

Now at this critical moment, the Cao Gang is turning a blind eye to their brothers, which is bound to make Wang Yong and his gang of old men feel disheartened.

Therefore, after Li Yan and others arrived at Manchuan Pass, they did not need to find a boat at all. Wang Yong, who received the news, took the initiative to come to them and send them to Ezhou.

"fine."

Lu San and Wang Yong were obviously quite familiar with each other, and he forced a smile on his face: "It's over. I'm living a good life now."

"That's fine."

Wang Yong nodded and looked at Li Yan again, "Young Master Li, you took off Xiong Baodong's head on Lantern Festival, and you are famous in Guanzhong. Brother Lu will definitely not suffer any loss if he follows Young Master Li!"

As he spoke, he showed a gloating expression on his face, "Qiao Sanhu is dead, and his family property is being fought over. Many people are trying to take advantage of his misfortune."

"The gang of vicious dogs under his command no longer have anyone to protect them. Some have fled and some have scattered these days. The guys on the road are also seeking revenge for their grievances. None of those guys can escape."

"Humph, you don't know how to be a good person when you are rich. Do you really think that you can live a carefree life by relying on the government?"

While speaking, he secretly looked at Li Yan.

There is a rumor in the underworld that Qiao Sanhu was also killed by someone arranged by Li Yan, but there is no evidence, after all, the circumstances at that time were too coincidental.

He didn't have any bad intentions, he just wanted to hear gossip out of habit.

Li Yan laughed and changed the subject: "Captain Wang, I heard that your Cao Gang and Paijiao had a fierce fight in Yunyang Prefecture?"

"Yes."

Wang Yong did not hide it and shook his head, saying, "Ever since Taizu sealed the mountain and established Yunyang Prefecture, the place has changed day by day. Now it has become a well-known wharf on the Shenzhou waterway and a thoroughfare for six provinces."

"In Ezhou, it is second only to Hankou Ferry, the thoroughfare connecting nine provinces, and is also the boundary between the Cao Gang and the Paijiao."

"Originally, we lived in peace. The Cao Gang occupied the North City Wharf, and the Pai Cult occupied the South City Wharf. But at the beginning of the year, the Pai Cult went crazy for some reason and insisted on swallowing up our territory. Naturally, the brothers in the gang refused to agree, so there was a big fight."

"Well, it's nothing more than the east wind suppressing the west wind, and the south wind suppressing the north wind. After many years, it will still be the same."

As he said this, he looked outside the boat and said with a smile: "Everyone, we have arrived at Shangjin City. This place is adjacent to Manchuan Pass. It is also a place of Qin and Chu. When we arrive here, we are already in Ezhou."

"Everyone, take a rest for the night and change your clothes. I will take you to Yunyang Prefecture tomorrow."

"You're too polite, bro."

Li Yan shook his head slightly and said with a smile, "We have been running around for days and are a little tired. We plan to rest for two more days in Shangjin Ancient Town before leaving."

"Brothers in the underworld have to travel back and forth to get a meal. If we bother Captain Wang again, it means we don't know the rules."

To be honest, although they had been sleeping in the open air all the way down from Mount Huashan and had not had a good rest, they were not so bad that they could not even withstand one night.

Li Yan said this on purpose.

No matter how much you value brotherhood, there is a limit.

Please help to send someone off. It won’t be good if you keep bothering them.

Halfway through the journey, Sharifei heard the news that the Cao Gang and the Pai Sect had already been killing each other. If they got too close to the Cao Gang, they might be dragged into it.

It’s better to avoid this kind of trouble.

Don't be fooled by Wang Yong's heroic words, but the old hands are ruthless when it comes to scheming and cheating people.

Sure enough, a hint of disappointment flashed in Wang Yong's eyes, but he no longer forced them. After sending everyone to the ferry, he waved goodbye and returned to Manchuan Pass.

After reaching the ferry, Li Yan and his companions looked up and saw a small city in front of them. It was built with bluestone and its walls were old and mottled. "Is this Shangjin City?"

Li Yan was a little surprised. "Isn't it the gate of Yunyang Prefecture? It doesn't look very big."

Wang Daoxuan smiled and said, "I've been here before. Although it's just a small town, it has been a port for shipping since the Tang Dynasty. Merchants gather here to rest. The four gates are also interesting. They are called Jie Qin, Da Chu, Tong Han, and Lian Yun."

"It's just that this place was burned down several times due to rebellions by mountain people, and then rebuilt again, so it's a little dilapidated."

"Oh, I see..."

Li Yan immediately understood what Wang Daoxuan meant.

Speaking of which, this is also related to the history of this place.

This place is close to the Jingxiang Mountain area. Since ancient times, it has been a gathering place for refugees. Whenever there is chaos in the world, there will be an influx of refugees.

For example, during the Qin Dynasty, many people fled here to live in seclusion. Tao Yuanming's famous "Peach Blossom Spring is unaware of the Han Dynasty, let alone the Wei and Jin Dynasties" is in Wuling County of Yunyang Prefecture.

Later, there was the Rebellion of the Eight Kings in the Western Jin Dynasty, the war between Song and Jin, and the confrontation between the North and the South of the former dynasty... In short, the number of refugees continued to reach millions.

The vast mountainous areas of Jingchu provided them with a home, so they stayed in the mountains and simply ignored the orders of the imperial court.

Millions of refugees hid in the mountains. Successive imperial courts were deeply worried and sent troops into the mountains several times to clear them out.

However, not only did it fail, it actually sparked a civil uprising.

When Daxuan was founded, the imperial court issued an order to close the mountains and vacate the land, and established Yunyang Prefecture to deal specifically with the affairs of the surrounding refugees.

Of course, this incident also triggered several major uprisings in Jingxiang.

The most recent one was a hero nicknamed "Tiansheng King" who gathered hundreds of thousands of refugees and attempted to establish his own country, refusing to obey the king's laws.

The result, naturally, was a brutal encirclement and suppression.

But this "Tiansheng King" was a very powerful figure in the martial arts world back then. Even after decades, his subordinates were still secretly causing chaos and seeking revenge for him.

Just last year, refugees attacked Shangyong County. Even though they were far away in Xianyang, they heard about it.

Wang Daoxuan mentioned this matter naturally to remind them to pay attention.

Everyone understood and lowered their hats and headed towards the city gate.

However, no matter how low-key they are, they cannot hide.

A swordsman, a Taoist priest, a bald man with a fierce look on his face, and a guy with an eagle standing on his shoulder...

Wherever you go, you will be the focus of attention.

Sure enough, they were stopped before they entered the city.

"Stop, where are you from?"

The soldiers guarding the city had vigilance in their eyes.

Li Yan had no choice but to show his Taoist certificate, "We came from Chang'an and are going to Ezhou to travel and visit friends. Don't worry, we will go to the Yunyang City God Temple to register."

Although the imperial court tightened control over the Xuanmen sect, it was not without benefits.

For example, this certificate of his is a symbol that can be used throughout the world.

Wherever you go, you only need to register with the City God Temple and you can take on all kinds of Taoist business in the local area.

This is also the wisdom of the court.

Although the Taixuan Orthodox Sect is huge, the large number of people in the Xuanmen are scattered all over Shenzhou and are still sparse.

When evil spirits and demons were causing chaos in some places, we had to invite people from other places.

With this item, as long as the Taoist monks do not deceive people and do not rely on magic to do evil, the imperial court would be happy to have them roam around, exorcise demons and ghosts, and suppress evil spirits.

The city guards must have been told about this kind of thing.

Sure enough, when the guards saw the black certificate, they panicked and lowered their heads and said, "Excuse me, gentlemen. Please enter the city."

"How about I accompany you to the inn?"

"No need, just tell us the place."

Li Yan waved his hand, and after finding out the location, he led everyone into the city.

The city of Shangjin is not big, with a layout of one street and nine alleys.

The streets running through the town were not big, no more than two hundred meters long and less than four meters wide. They were paved with bluestone slabs, and drizzle flowed through the cracks.

There are shops lining both sides, with a constant flow of people and cars, old brick and wooden doors, and moss growing on the corners. Although the place is small, it seems extremely prosperous.

Since this place is an important water transport town, there are many inns in the city, most of which are coach houses where coolies live. Only one inn is considered to be of high quality.

Of course, even the best inn cannot be compared with Chang'an. It is just a large courtyard where people can stay upstairs or downstairs.

Li Yan and his companions had no plan to stay any longer, so they casually booked four connected rooms on the second floor, asked the waiter to bring them some hot water, prepared some food and wine to eat, and then prepared to rest.

They did not stay in Manchuan Pass, and here, they could finally sleep well.

At this time, it was raining harder outside.

Li Yan opened the window and took in the entire town shrouded in mist and rain.

The sky was beginning to darken. Candlelights were dim and smoke was rising everywhere in the ancient city. In the grocery store downstairs opposite, an old Tujia man was squatting at the door, holding a four or five foot long pipe and puffing out clouds of smoke. The scene was peaceful and harmonious.

However, in a few inns in the distance, the boatmen who were taking a rest to avoid the rain were drinking rice wine, playing finger-guessing games, and laughing. The sound of their laughter could be heard throughout the whole street.

Li Yan didn't care. He changed his wet clothes and sat down on the bed. He picked up the Duanchen Knife in his hand and stroked it to look at it carefully.

He concentrated his mind slightly and slid his fingers across the hilt of the knife. The twelve ancient Yuanchen coins inlaid on it suddenly flashed with electric light and made crackling sounds.

Li Yan couldn't help but smile.

The old man on Mount Hua is definitely a famous swordsmith.

This ability is really useful. Now, there is Yin Thunder in each of the twelve copper coins. When fighting with the enemy with swords, you can concentrate your mind and stimulate it, using the power of Yin Thunder to shock the enemy's soul.

You have to know that in a fight, victory or defeat is just a fine line away.

If you lose your concentration during a fight, it can be fatal, even if the Yin thunder cannot directly harm the opponent's soul.

And as his Taoism level improves, his thunder magic will eventually become stronger.

With a clang, Li Yan drew out his precious sword, and imitating the old man, he made sword gestures with his hands and gently stroked the blade.

Of course, he couldn't use that extremely weak and subtle force, so naturally he couldn't turn his sword into a dragon's roar.

The blade's light could judge a person, and the center of the blade was made of Shoushan copper essence, with the concave and convex parts turning into a dark yellow dragon pattern.

You know, the old man didn't have the mechanical tools from his previous life to help him, so he was able to make such a practical and exquisite pattern, which was simply a magical skill.

Of course, another point is the change in knife shape.

Li Yan held the knife and pointed it forward suddenly, with the blade looking like an extension of his arm.

No wonder the old man wanted to pinch his bone-shaped hands in the first place.

If the heirloom sword was just familiar to him, then the feeling he had now was as if he was born to use it.

However, as the shape of the knife changes, the knife technique must also change accordingly.

It is inevitable that I will have to practice hard again.

There are also several techniques in the "Beidi Sutra" that have reached the threshold, but they are extremely troublesome to practice and require special materials.

After arriving in Yichang, I found a place to settle down after saving the people, first practiced magic, and then honed my sword skills...

After thinking about the future itinerary for a while, Li Yan felt quite tired. He simply concentrated his mind and fell into a deep sleep on the bed.

Before I knew it, the night was getting darker and the sound of rain could be heard outside the window.

Dangdang Dangdang!
As dawn approached, the rapid sound of gongs and drums broke the tranquility of the ancient city...

　Take a break today, just two more chapters

　　
　
(End of this chapter)